Obituary of Dorothea E. Leidy

DOROTHEA ELIZABETH LEIDY (nee Rea) passed away peacefully on May 22, 2020 at the age of 96 in Skilled Nursing at Wesley Enhanced Living in Doylestown. Born in Philadelphia, Pa on May 19, 1924, she was the daughter of Elizabeth and Harry Rea. Dorothea, who preferred to be called Dot, spent her early years growing up on Gratz St. in West Oak Lane. There, at the age of 16, she met her husband-to-be, Earl E. Leidy. After High School, Dot worked for an insurance company and at the conclusion of WWII, Dot and Earl were married January 1946 in Philadelphia. They settled in Warminster, PA for a few years before moving to Hatboro. Early in their marriage, Dot worked as a cashier at Penn Fruit in Willow Grove. Their first child Margaret (Peggy) was born in December of 1947 followed by Edward (Ed) born in April of 1957. Once their children were grown, they moved to Brooks St., Willow Grove in 1977. Dot was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, who passed in September of 1985. She moved to the Independent Living area of Heritage Towers in Doylestown in 1999, which later became Wesley Enhanced Living. Dot was a wonderful homemaker who enjoyed taking care of her family. She led her daughter’s Brownie troop and regularly attended her son’s wrestling matches at Upper Moreland High School. An incredible cook and baker, Dot's pies were a family favorite at every holiday meal. She loved gardening, which was obvious by the beautiful beds of irises, daffodils, tulips, and perennials in the gardens of all her homes. She was active at Lehman Methodist church and was a member of their women’s circle, until moving to Doylestown. An avid reader, and coupon clipper, Dot always had a book, magazine, or newspaper ad nearby. Dot also had fun playing cards with family and friends, especially pinochle. She liked to embroider and created many pictures her family will continue to treasure. Dot was very happy spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As they grew, she stayed interested and engaged in their lives. Along with her husband, Dot was preceded in death by her brothers-in-law, Ronald, Norman, Roy, Joseph and Robert Leidy and sister-in-law Dorris Leidy, her nephew Robert Montgomery and brother-in-law George Montgomery, and her son-in-law Paul Stebner. She is survived by her sister Elizabeth Montgomery, her daughter, Margaret Stebner, son, Edward Leidy and daughter-in-law Oksana, nephew Richard Montgomery and granddaughters Erika Stebner Canterbury and her husband Mark, Kiersten Stebner Steczak and her husband Jared, and Alexa Leidy, great-granddaughters, Grace Canterbury and Caroline Canterbury, and great-grandson Gavin Steczak. A private family service is being held on Thursday, May 28th at Louis Swift Plunkett Funeral Home in Hatboro with interment at the Hatboro Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Wesley Enhanced Living Doylestown Benevolent Fund.